Services

Inquiry looks at plans for homes on former social club site

A PLANNING inquiry into whether homes should be built on a sports field in Cowley started at Oxford Town Hall yesterday.

Cantay Estates wishes to build 40 homes, as well as two all-weather pitches, on the site of the former Lord Nuffield Club in Barracks Lane.

It took the application to appeal after planning permission was refused by Oxford City Council.

Government inspector Mike Robins began the three-day inquiry yesterday and heard from city council planning officer Fiona Bartholomew, who said the former sports pitches could be brought back into use.

She said: “I don’t agree that this would be an improvement on what exists there and it has the potential to be brought back.

“Just because you cannot get on to the site today doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a socio-historic value to local people, and that is evidenced by the number of comments received from them on this planning application.”

The Lord Nuffield Club was founded over 100 years ago as the Morris Motors Sports and Athletics Club, but closed down with debts of £3m just two years after moving into a new building.

Cantay Estates purchased the site in 2012 and the building has since been occupied by the Tyndale Community School, which has become Oxford’s first free school.

Comments

wobbler
12:58pm Wed 15 Jan 14

This site was provided by William Morris primarily for the workers and their families at his motor works. Over the years the usage of both the buildings and grounds have changed to encompass use by those not employed by Morris, for instance sports teams, primarily cricket but also other sports and local people. These people had little or no affiliation to Morris works so it it totally inappropriate for Cantay to maintain the stance that the field is private property. At the end of the day this was land given to the people by a well known benefactor who wanted local people to benefit from after work activity and social gatherings. This land should not be developed by people who are out to make money from another's generosity and altruistic nature.

This site was provided by William Morris primarily for the workers and their families at his motor works. Over the years the usage of both the buildings and grounds have changed to encompass use by those not employed by Morris, for instance sports teams, primarily cricket but also other sports and local people. These people had little or no affiliation to Morris works so it it totally inappropriate for Cantay to maintain the stance that the field is private property. At the end of the day this was land given to the people by a well known benefactor who wanted local people to benefit from after work activity and social gatherings. This land should not be developed by people who are out to make money from another's generosity and altruistic nature.wobbler

This site was provided by William Morris primarily for the workers and their families at his motor works. Over the years the usage of both the buildings and grounds have changed to encompass use by those not employed by Morris, for instance sports teams, primarily cricket but also other sports and local people. These people had little or no affiliation to Morris works so it it totally inappropriate for Cantay to maintain the stance that the field is private property. At the end of the day this was land given to the people by a well known benefactor who wanted local people to benefit from after work activity and social gatherings. This land should not be developed by people who are out to make money from another's generosity and altruistic nature.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here